Band Music Audition Requirements
Rising 9th graders: Wind Instrument
- Major Scales (20% of total score)
Perform the following major scales from memory: Concert B flat, E flat, A flat, C and F. (horns only do not perform C concert scale as it cannot be played within the range requirement)
- Chromatic Scale (20% of total score)
(minimum of one octave) Must be memorized and played slurred ascending and tongued descending. Required ranges are listed below
Flute/Piccolo

Oboe

Basoon
Bb Clarinet
Bass Contra Clarient

Alto/Tenor/Bari Sax

Trumpet TC Baritone

Horn
Trombone/BC Baritone
Tuba
Xylophone
- Prepared Etude (30% of total score):
The required etude for your instrument is the VBODA required etude for your instrument. You can acquire this music form your instrumental teacher, or contact Mr. Magee at [email protected] to get a copy
- Perform a sight reading selection provided by the judges (30% of total score)
Students are given one sight-reading exercise. Students are given 30 seconds to study the exercise prior to performing.
Percussion Instruments for students from middle schools (rising 9th graders)
- Major Scales (20% of total score)
Perform the following major scales with mallets : Concert A flat, B flat, E flat, C and F
- Perform 6 rudiments on snare drum (20% of total score)
Long roll, 5 stroke roll, 7 stroke roll, ruff, flam, paradiddle. Play each rudiment for 15 seconds, use open-close-open method and these rudiments are to be memorized.
- Prepared Etude (30% of total score)
The required etude for your instrument is the VBODA etude. You can acquire this music form your instrumental teacher, or contact Mr. Magee at [email protected] to get a copy.
- Perform a sight reading selection provided by the judges (30% of total score)
Students are given one sight-reading exercise. Students are given 30 seconds to study the exercise prior to performing.
Rising 10th and 11th graders- Winds and Percussion Instruments
- Major Scales (20% of total score) Please note the following scale requirements:
- All major scales are required and must be memorized
- Scales are called by KEY NAME, not CONCERT PITCH
- Scales are to be played in as many complete octaves as possible on the instrument except for percussionists.
- Articulation is legato tongue up and down.
- Tempo is MM = 100 for wind players, MM = 160 for percussionists.
- The following rhythm pattern will be used for all octaves: quarter note (tonic) followed by eighth notes
Snare Drum: This section is used for rudimental score. Rudiments will be selected from the Percussive Arts Society Standard 26 Rudiments. Each rudiment will have a 15 second time limit and should be played open to closed. Students may use their own snare drum or one provided by the audition site.
Timpani: This section is used to evaluate tuning skills. Students may use a pitch pipe, tuning fork, or mallet instrument as a pitch source. Students are allowed 45 seconds for tuning and study of the sight-reading.
- Chromatic Scale (20% of total score) Please note the following scale requirements:
Slur ascending, tongued descending (except trombones and percussion). Instruments play their chromatic scale in sixteenth notes at the tempo given below. (Quarter note = one beat) All tempos given are the required MINIMUM; students may play faster.
- Piccolo: D below staff to altissimo C (2 octaves + 7th) MM = 120
- Flute: C below staff to altissimo C (3 octaves) MM = 120
- Oboe: C below staff to E above high C (2 octaves + 3rd) MM = 120
- English Horn: C below staff to D above staff (2 octaves + 2nd) MM = 120
- Bassoon: Bb below staff to high Bb one octave above staff (3 octaves) MM = 96
- Eb Clarinet: Same as Bb Clarinet (see below)
- Bb Clarinet: E below staff to G above high C (3 octaves + 3rd) MM = 120
- Bass Clarinet: E below staff to C above the staff (2 octaves + 6th) MM = 120
- Contra Clarinet: E below staff to G# above staff (2 octaves + 3rd) MM = 96
- Alto Saxophone: Bb below staff to F above staff (2 octaves + 5th); hold high F for two counts prior to descending. MM = 120
- Tenor Saxophone: Same as Alto Saxophone (see above)
- Baritone Saxophone: Same as Alto Saxophone (see above) MM = 96
- Cornet/Trumpet: G below staff to C above staff (2 octaves + 4th) MM = 120
- Horn: F below staff to Bb above staff MM = 120
- Tenor Trombone: Low F to 4th ledger line Bb (2 octaves + 5th); legato tongue ascending, staccato tongue descending. MM = 96
- Bass Trombone: C below staff to F above staff (2 octaves + 4th); legato tongue ascending, staccato tongue descending. MM = 96
- Euphonium TC: G below staff to C above staff (2 octaves + 4th) MM = 120
- Euphonium BC: Low F to 4th ledger line Bb (2 octaves + 5th ) MM = 120
- Tuba: Lowest F to highest Bb (2 octaves + 4th) MM = 112
- Mallets: 3 octaves ONLY; minimum tempo MM = 144
- Snare Drum: Long roll (30 second time limit), concert roll, sustained sound, pp-ff-pp (15 second time limit)
- Prepared Etude (30% of total score)
Students perform the prepared etude for their instrument as posted on the VBODA website. You can acquire this music form your instrumental teacher, or contact Mr. Magee at [email protected] to get a copy.
- Sight-Reading (30% of total score)
Students are given one sight-reading exercise. Students are given 30 seconds to study the exercise prior to performing.